TRANSPORT

Board of Transport Accident Investigators

Alistair Darling: I have recently announced the appointment of the Chief Inspector designate of Rail Accidents, and we are now setting up a Board of Transport Accident Investigators. This will comprise the Chief Inspectors of the Air and Marine Accident Investigation Branches together with the Chief Inspector designate of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). The Board will initially support the Chief Inspector designate in her establishment of the RAIB and in the longer term will seek to identify areas where the accident investigation branches can co-operate and adopt best practice.

London Regional Transport Board

Alistair Darling: In my written statement of 4 February, Official Report, Col 10WS, I announced that the Government, Transport for London (TfL) and the London Mayor had agreed to work together to secure a speedy and orderly transfer of the Underground to TfL.
	It remains my intention for the transfer to be completed as soon as possible. In the interim, I have decided to appoint two non-executive members to the London Regional Transport Board, Paul Godier, Managing Director of London Underground Limited (LUL), and Martin Callaghan, PPP Director of LUL, so that it can operate at full strength in carrying out its remaining functions, including the transfer of the Underground to TfL, in this final period. Both already attend LRT Boards, but as non-members have hitherto been unable to contribute to its quorum.
	The appointments took effect on 24 April 2003. Neither member will receive any additional remuneration.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration Control

Beverley Hughes: The Government are firmly committed to maintaining effective immigration controls while at the same time ensuring that genuine passengers are able to pass through our ports with the least possible inconvenience.
	The number of Algerian nationals arriving at UK airports who are found to be inadmissible is unacceptably high. Although Algerian nationals must obtain a visa to enter the UK they may, in common with other nationalities, transit this country for up to 24 hours without a visa. However, this is a concession open to abuse by those who are intent on circumventing our immigration controls. A significant number of Algerian nationals who do not qualify for leave to enter or remain in the UK go on to make unfounded asylum claims, some 1,060 in 2002. Therefore from 00.01 hours on Friday 2 May all Algerian nationals wishing to transit the UK will require a direct airside transit visa to do so.
	To avoid undue hardship for those who had already made their travel plans, we have agreed to operate a grace period. Until 23.59 hours on 6 May any transit passenger who brought their ticket on or before 1 May will not be refused transit solely on the basis of not holding a valid transit visa. Also, any person on the return leg of a journey they commenced before 1 May and who passed through the UK on the outward leg of their journey will be allowed to transit the UK without a visa.

DEFENCE

Social Security (Incapacity Benefit)(Her Majesty's Forces) (Amendment) Regulations 2003

Lewis Moonie: In my capacity as Minster for Veterans I am pleased to announce that on 14 April 2003 the Department for Work and Pensions laid before the House the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Her Majesty's Forces) (Amendment) Regulations 2003. The regulations provide that people discharged from the armed forces may in future count days of absence from duty on health grounds while in service towards the higher rates of incapacity benefit.
	For many years there have been special pay arrangements in place for members of the armed forces which recognise their unique position. Veterans with continuing health problems are able to make a claim for incapacity benefit immediately on discharge. However, until now, they were required to be in receipt of incapacity benefit for 28 weeks before qualifying for the higher rates. The new regulations, which take effect from 5 May, bring ex-members of the forces into line with civilian claimants who have been in receipt of statutory sick pay.
	I am grateful to DWP Ministers for making this change, which serves as an illustration of the power of the veterans initiative launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister with the aim of joining up the Government's response to veterans' concerns. I would also like to pay tribute to ex-service organisations such as South Atlantic Medal Association (82), who first brought this matter to my attention, for the valuable work they do in the interests of ex-servicemen and women and their dependants.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

European Council

Denis MacShane: The forthcoming business is as follows:
	
		
			 Date Location Event 
		
		
			 MAY   
			 2–4 Cruise from Rhodes to Kastellorizo Gymnich (Informal Foreign Ministers) 
			 3–4 Athens Informal Environment (Ministerial Informal) 
			 5–6 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture Council 
			  Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			 10–13 Corfu Agriculture (Ministerial Informal) 
			 12–13 Brussels Competitiveness 
			  Brussels EUROGROUP 
			  Brussels ECOFIN 
			  Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			  Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 15–16 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 15–16 Brussels EU—ACP Ministerial 
			 16–17 Halkidiki Informal Regional Policy (Ministerial) 
			 16–18 Cruise off Greece Informal Transport & Merchant Marine (Ministerial) 
			  Brussels EU—W. Balkans (Zagreb Process) 
			 19 Brussels Competitiveness Council 
			  Brussels General Affairs & External Relations (+ Defence) 
			  Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			  Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			  Thessaloniki Informal Culture (Ministerial) 
			 26–27 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 26–27 Crete EUROMED Conference (Mid Term Ministerial) 
			  Brussels Environment Council 
			  Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			 28 Brussels Economic & Financial Affairs Committee 
			 30–31 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			  St. Petersburg EU—Russia Summit 
			   
			 JUNE   
			 2 Brussels EUROGROUP 
			 5–6 Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			  Brussels ECOFIN 
			  Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			 5–6 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 5–6 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council 
			 2–3 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			  Rhodes Public Administration (Ministerial Informal) 
			  Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			 11–12 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 2–3 Alexandroupolis Development Co-operation (Ministerial Informal) 
			 12–13 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 13 Brussels Environment Council 
			 17–18 Luxembourg General Affairs & External Relations  
			 20 Halkidiki EUROPEAN COUNCIL 
			  Thessaloniki Zagreb II Summit 
			  Brussels General Affairs & External Relations  
			 JULY   
			 2–3 Rome Research (Ministerial Informal) 
			 4–5 Naples Transport Infrastructure (Ministerial Informal) 
			  Palermo Trade (Ministerial Informal) 
			 10 Varese Informal Council/ Troika 
			 11–12 Varese Employment & Social Policy (Informal Council) 
			 15–16 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 17–18 Treviso EU Employment Committee (Informal) 
			 18–20 Montecatini Energy & Environment (Ministerial Informal) 
			 22–23 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			  Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 24–25 Milan European Conference on Discrimination 
			 25–26 Rome Competitiveness (Informal Ministerial) 
			 25–26 Verona Education (+Research?) (Ministerial Informal) 
			   
			 AUGUST   
			  No Meetings Planned 
			   
			 SEPTEMBER   
			 3–4 Viterbo Telecommunications (Ministerial Informal) 
			 5–6 Riva del Garda Gymnich (Informal Foreign Affairs) 
			 7–9 Taormina Agriculture (Informal Council) 
			 12–13 Stresa ECOFIN (Informal Council) 
			 19–20 Rome Justice & Internal Affairs (Informal Council) 
			 22–23 Brussels Competition (Internal Market, Industry & Research) 
			 26–27 Erice Community Regional Cohesion Policy (Ministerial Informal) 
			 29–30 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 29–30 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			   
			 OCTOBER   
			 2–3 Brussels Justice & Internal Affairs 
			 3–4 Rome Defense (Ministerial Informal) 
			  Brussels ECOFIN 
			 9–10 Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 13–14 Brussels General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) 
			 13–14 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 16–17 Brussels EUROPEAN COUNCIL 
			 20–21 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 27 Brussels Environment Council 
			   
			 NOVEMBER   
			 4 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 6 Brussels Justice & Internal Affairs (Informal Council—to be confirmed) 
			 17–18 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 17–18 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 24–25 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 24–25 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture Council 
			 27–28 Brussels Justice & Internal Affairs (Informal Council)